Officially debuting the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R in New York’s Times Square today, Kawasaki has unsurprisingly brought a stroked-out 636cc machine to a 599cc supersport battle. While the chassis of the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R is the same, the motor has obviously been reworked, along with the bodywork. However, the big news from the reveal is the addition of Kawasaki’s three-mode KTRC traction control to the supersport-class motorcycle, once again proving that electronics are the new horsepower.

Other additions to the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R include Showa’s new SFF-BP front forks. Combining Showa’s Separate Function Fork (SFF) with its Big Piston (BP) technology, Kawasaki hopes the suspension units will provide the optimal balance between street and track riding. The new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R motor also gets further improved with the addition of a back-torque limiting slipper clutch.

The first mass-market 600cc-class sport bike to get a traction control electronics package (the MV Agusta F3 was the first outright middleweight motorcycle to get TC), Kawasaki’s inclusion of traction control and optional ABS are defining features for the ZX-6R against the supersports from the other Big Four brands.

Hoping to be the middleweight sport bike of 2013, Kawasaki has an interesting balance between bringing new features to the ZX-6R, while continuing to use parts of the old machine. More details as we get them.

I dunno about that. Hit an apex at full-lean, crack the throttle wide-open, and report back to us.

Bryan Niese

Exactly what I’ve been looking for. A little more power and midrange than the typical 600 with a well designed chassis and components. They even got the small details right. The Nissin calipers look like the old one but are now monoblocs and the front forks are upgraded. The price caught me by surprise a little but given the addition of TC and other upgrades it’s still not terrible. TC may be overkill on a 636 on a nice day, but in less than perfect conditions (rain, cold, or the end of a trackday when you and you’re tires are both worn down) it could come in handy.

meatspin

i like that it looks a bit more balanced than the ZX10 which had a big nose and a stubby tail.

2ndclass

Definitely on the shortlist for my next bike. I’ve ridden a couple of the older 636s and they’re brilliant bikes, TC and ABS only improve the package as a street bike for a mere mortal rider such as myself.

Tom

Funny, I always thought that a throttle and rider skill was a motorcycle’s traction control.